Apparatus for separation of metallic values



Jan. 22, 194s. A HANAK 2,393,461v

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION OF METALLIC VALUES Filed oct. 15, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 22, 1946. A. HANAK w APPARATUS FOR SEPARATION 0F METALLIC VALUES Q Filed Oct. 15, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 22, 1946 'APPARArUs Fon SEPARATION .oF l METALLIC VALUES f Albert Hanak, Elkins Park, Pa.

.Application October .15

, 1942, serial No.- 462,121

3 Claims. (Cl. "266%18) This :invention relates to an .apparatus vfor :the separation VAof lowfmelting :point metals and alloys from higher melting `point metals, and in ,particular A,is .directed to `an apparatus for the separation of such fcommingled metallic Values.

In industrial operati-ons at well as in salvaging obsolete .articles of .-metals, there result vmixtures of metals and alloys, which, if melted in asn-leiter., ,yield industrially useless `or undesirable alloys. If howeventhese .mixtures of soldered or babbitted Ior fusible .metal Vfilled articles are subjected .to va-,prelimi-nary treatment, the components can be then returned to new usefulness. f It is quite evi- -den-t that the .more thorough is this v-preli-n'iinary treatment, the Igreater vare the values recovered Yand the simpler and cheaper are any subsequent treatments necessary to return the component parts to new industrial and commercial usefulness.

The .many types of equipment presently employed for .the above purposes may attain a 4certain degree of success for a 'particular article 'for' which they are designed. For instance, there are severalV types of vso-called radiator sweaters which permit the separa-tion of :solder from the brass, but in furnaces of such limited utility, one cannot separate the lead vcore .of jacketed bullets, nor the babbitt of 'babbitted bearings, -nor antifriction chips from brass or iron chips, etc.

Thepresent 'invention on the other hand, provides an equipment in which all manner of separations can be performed and which, in efflciency, ease of operation, cost of installation, etc., supersedes all thevpresently employed types of r equipment.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to separate metals like lead and lead alloys or tin and tin alloys from metals like copper or copper alloys, or from iron, steel, nickel, aluminum, and zinc and their alloys.

Another object of the invention is to separate the low melting point metals and alloys from high melting point metals and alloys when these are mixed in the form of chips, turnings, borings, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to separate low melting metals and alloys from soldered or babbitted articles, Where a vigorous and continuous jolting is essential to complete such an operation.

Another object of the invention is to separate lead or lead alloys from ammunition, possible only by a continuous'tumbling action.

Another object of the invention is to separate the low melting metals from the high melting ones :in asuitablezand adjustable atmosphere and tempera-ture.

',hegessence of the-invention which renders vthe foregoing .objects ,possible of :accomplishment resides in the `provision of means for:

Further 'objects `andfa fuller understanding of the invention will be gathered upon reading the Y following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figurel is a diagrammatic .illustration of the apparatus for effecting the separation of low melting point ,metals and alloys from higher .meltingfpoint metallic materials constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure -21is .a viewin section taken on 22=ofFigure l.

Figure 3 is a view in section taken on the line 3-3 vof Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in section taken on the line the une 4-4 of Figure -1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a View of the cylindrical shell, partially torn away, showing the internal construction thereof.

Figure 6 is an end view of the cylindrical shell y of Figure 5.

With reference to the above drawings, a cylindrical steel shell of suitable thickness, illustrated at I (l, is rotatably supported on hollow steel trunnions I I which rest on roller bearings I2 mounted on stands I3. The cylindrical shell is insulated by a layer of heat insulating material I4 such as magnesia, or rock wool insulation, and the latter is held in place by a steel outer cover I5. The shell is rotated by means of a cogwheel I6 fastened to one end of the cylindrical shell and motivatedl by a variable speed motor I1 through gear-reducer I 8 and link belt chain 20. The cylindrical shell is provided with a charging or discharging opening 2|, which is closed with an y every part of the charge.

inder is in operation.

The heating is accomplished by a gas burner 23 inserted through one of the hollow trunnions I l, the secondary air being supplied through pipe 24 from a blower 25. The products of combustion are exhausted through the opposite hollow trunnion and appropriate cooling arrangement 25 by meansof exhaust fan 21` and thence blown into baghouse .28 for vthe recovery of dust containing metal particles.

The cylindrical shell is internally provided with an arrangement of steel ns 30 welded thereto.

' These fins follow the curvature of the cylinder from the ends to the charging door. Their important function will be described later.

In operating the equipment, it is first preheated and then a charge of the material consisting of mixtures and/or adherences of low melting point and higher melting point metallic values is introduced through the opening 2 I, and the perforated door 22 then securely fastened with appropriate bolts or clamps over the opening. The charge is now heated to the approximate melting point of the lower melting component, with exhaust fan 21 in operation to remove the products of combustion as well as the water, oil, and grease vapors which are almost invariably present in the materials in question, rThe rotating mechanism is now set in motion and a suitable receptacle is placed under the cylinder to receive and hold the molten portions of the charge las they flow through perforations of door 22 whenever same is in downward position, It is now that the ns 3&1 perform their function by collecting and leading the molten globules of metals toward the door 22 and preventing the same from traveling towards the ends of the cylinder and mixing again with the solid parts of the charge. During the rotation of the cylinder l0, the charge is continually turned over and over so that absolute uniformity of temperature is obt-ained in This new apparatus therefore affords a distinct advantage over many types of existing furnaces since such uniformity of temperature is practically never attained in their use. Furthermore, the molten globules of metal always gravitate to the lowest point of the cylinder and, guided by the ns towards the perforated door, are readily and constantly removed.

The fins also perform another important funcinterchangeable perforated door 22, when the cyltion, namely, they lift and turn over the solid particles of the material and thereby loosen and free any adhering molten particles, which are then guided to the perforated door. As was mentioned above, the perforated door is interchangeable, thus allowing for variation in the size of perforations to conform to the material treated. Obviously, the smaller the higher melting particles are, the-smaller are vtheeperforations, and vice-versa. It is also mentioned that the completion of the separation is readily observable.

1 kWhen no more of the molten globules of metals issue through the perforated door, the operation is nished.

I claim:

l. Apparatus of the class described comprising: a rotatably supported cylindrical furnace provided with hollow trunnions for introducing gaseous fuel and for exhausting the products of combustion and the values contained therein, an opening in the center of the cylindrical wall for charging the furnace, a door for closing the opening and provided with means to permit the discharge, as they liquefy, of the lower melting point metallic values, and a pluralityof fins attached to the inside of the cylindrical furnace wall, following the curvature thereof from each end toward the door.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising: a rotatably supported cylindrical furnace comprising, an insulated metallic shell provided with hollow trunnions for introducing gaseous fuel and for exhausting the productsof combustion and the values contained therein, an opening in the center of the cylindrical wall for charging the furnace, a perforated door for covering the opening to permit the discharge, as they liquefy, of the lower melting peint values, and a plurality of ns attached to the inside of the cylindrical furnace wall, following the curvature thereof from each end toward the door,

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising: a rotary furnace having means for charging the furnace with robjects for the removal of metals therefrom as they liquefy and are vaporized and provided with a withdrawal zone in the center of the wall thereof; and a plurality of ns for guiding the lower melting point values to the withdrawal zone.

, ALBERT HANAK. 

